Beet-harvester.



No. 842,021. PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907;

J. F. SANDBERG. BEET HARVESTER.

APELIOATION FILED MAY 28.1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATBNTED'JAN. 22'; 1907.-

E r09 farm 587 ATTORNEYS m. d Y .I I F. m

3 J.P.SANDBERG.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28,1906.

WITNESSES PATENTED JAN. 22', 1907.

J. P. SANDBBRG. BBBT HARVEST APPLICATION FILED my 2a. 1906 I M. II.

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PATENTED JAN. 22,- 1907.

b J. P. SANDBBRG.

'BEBT HARVESTER; I APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906.

5 BHEBTQ-SHBET 5.

HWENTOH Jb'S e n/z 11902111 5617 A TTOHNE Y8 tion thereof.

and the means for adjusting the same.

JOSEPH F. SANDBERG, or SMITHFIELD, UTAH.

BEET-HARVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J' an. 22, 1907.

Application filed May 28,1906. Serial No. 319.069.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn F. SANDBERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Smithfield, in the county of Cache and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Harvesters, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in beetharvesters; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side eleva- Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section on about the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section on about line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the scraper for delivering the tops to the side of the machine and the means for supporting and operating said scraper. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view ofthe devices for raising the beets out of the ground. Fig. 8 is a detail side yiew of the rear portion of the machine, taken from thev opposite side from Fig. 2 and illustrating the rake for lifting the beets outof the ground Fi 9 is a detail perspective view of the tongii e and the steering-wheel. Fig. 10 is a detail section on about line 10 10 of Fig. 6, and Fig.

1 1 is a detail perspective view of the digging devices.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide a main frame, a steering-wheel A at the front end thereof, and which may be adjusted whereby to raise the machine off the ground in moving from place to place and in turning, and in rear of this steering-wheel I provide a rotary cutter B for cutting off very rank tops and for chopping them up, so that they will not interfere with the operation of the topper C, which is arranged in rear of the rotary cutter B." In rear of the topper C, I arrange a scraper D for delivering the tops to the side of the machine.

In rear of this scraper I arrange the plows E for digging the beets out of the ground, and in rear of these plows I provide the rake F to gather the beets and discharge them with the assistance of a toothed or fan-shaped roller G into the trough H at the rear of the machine, a conveyer I being supported to operate in the trough and discharge the beets'at one side of the machine. For supporting the several parts I provide a frame which is preferably made in three sectionsthe front section J the main section J, and the rear or supple.- mental frame-section K. The front section J is secured to the main section J, so the front section may when desired be raised at its front end without throwing the weight back of the wheels. This is effected by providing a hinge-joint at J, on which the front section J may be rocked when the bolts J are removed. construction I provide at the rear end of the side bars of the front section bars J which are bolted to the front section J extend rearwardly therefrom, and lap 011 opposite sides of the front ends of the bars J, being secured thereto by the bolts J and J so that by removing the bolts J the front frame may be rocked on its hinge connection at J with the front ends of the bar J. EX- cept for this hinge connection at J, which may be brought into play when desired, the

front end of the frame cannot be raised without throwing the weight back of the wheels. The main section J has the side bars J, which are connected at their front ends by a cross bar J 2 and at their rear ends by the arch J the latter having the drivers seat J, as shown, the side bars J being made in sections, as before described, with the front section J arranged for adjustment on a hinged connection at J, as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. supplemental frame-section K has the side bars K, connected detachably by bolts, K K and K with the rear ends of the side bars J of the main frame-section, so that when used in small fields the frame K, carryin the gathering devices, may be disconnected om the main frame of the machine. In this connection it will be noticed that the side bars K of the supplemental frame terminate at their front ends at k and are secured by the bolts K and K between parallel plates j and j, secured at their front ends on opposite sides of the rear ends of the side bars J and In carrying out this The extending thence rearwardly to secure between them the bars K, as will be understood from Fig-1 of the drawings. These parallel plates and j are secured. by the bolts K and K 'securely to the bars J, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will be noticed that I provide,- in connection with a suitable main frame, means for steering the same for raising and lowering the front end of the IIO frame and also provide means for cutting off the rank tops, devices in rear thereof for cutting off the tops immediately above the beets, means for discharging the parts so cut to one side of the machine, and digging devices for lifting the beets out of the ground, and a rake and cooperating means for dis charging the dug beets to a trough.

The steering-wheel A is mounted in bear ings at the lower end of the shaft A, which shaft extends upwardly through openings in the upper and lower plates 0, and a, in which the shaft A may move longitudinally in raising and lowering the front end of the machine. Springs 1 and law arranged, respectively, below the plate a and above the plate a, the lower spring bearing between the plate a and the upper end of the fork in which the wheel A journals and the upper spring 2 bearing between the plate a and the plate 3, which is secured at its opposite ends in connection with the framing and has an opening at its center through which the shaft A projects. By'these springs 1 and 2 the front end of the machine is cushioned in connection with the shaft A and yet can be moved up and down to adjust the front end of the frame by means of the lever L. The lever L is pivoted at L by fitting a comparatively large opening L in the said lever on an upright shaft L mounted on the cross-b ar J 2 of the frame and receiving the spring L upon which the lever L rests and pivots so the said lever may rock in a vertical plane to permit its front end, which'is connected with the upper end of the shaft A by means of links L", to operate the said shaft whereby to raise and lower the front end of the main frame. The spring L forms a yielding bearing for the lever L and eases any jars or shocks which might be encountered .by the machine in the operation thereof. At its rear end the lever L has a detent or pawl Z engaging the teeth of the upright rack M, whereby the lever may be held in anysuitable adjustment.

The plate a extends in advance of the up right shaft A, and the tongue N is pivoted by a bolt N to the said plate a, so the tongue may swing to a limited extent to both sides. The swinging movement of the tongue is limited by the bolts 1 2 passing through the plate a and through the slots N in a plate N, secured to the lower side of the tongue N, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Y l

The rotary cutter B comprises a shaft B, journaled at its ends in bearings B at the lower ends of shafts B and blades B, carried at the ends of arms B projecting outwardly from the shaft B and adapted when the cutter is rotated to cut off the upper portions of the rank tops of the beets. This rotary cutter is operated by a sprocket-chain 1), connecting the sprocket-wheel b, fixed on the shaft B, with the sprocket-wheel b fixed to one of the main wheels 0, the opposite main wheel 0 having its sprocket-wheel geared with the conveyer at the rear of the machine, as presently described. By changing the sprocket-wheels B and B the speed at which the rotary cutter is operated may be varied, as is well known to those accustomed to the use of sprocketchains. The shafts B (see Fig. 5) are movable vertically in bearings B and receive at their upper ends nuts B springs B being arranged'between the bars B of the shafts and the bearings B to cushion the said shafts and permit the rotary cutter to have a yielding action. The nuts B may also be adjusted to operate in connection with the springs B in raising and lowering the rotary cutter, as may be desired.

The topper C comprises the blades C, secured to the frame 0, and a roller G which may be adjusted relatively to the blades C to regulate the depth to which the latter may operate below the surface of the ground.

The frame C has upright shafts 0 extending upwardly through suitable guides or bearings at C and thence through elevated bearings at C in brackets C mounted on the main frame and receiving the nuts G which may be adjusted to limit the depth to which the cutter C may be lowered. The frame C also has at its lower end the inwardly-projecting lugs C", to which the outer ends ofthe cutters C are secured, and is also provided with a top cross-plate G, from which plates 0 project downwardly to support the ends of the cutters C, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. A frame C extends between the side bars J above the topper and is pro vided with openings C in which operate the upright shafts C carrying the roller C at their lower ends, the trunnions C of the roller C projecting through the bearings in the bolts C and thence into upright slots C in the frame C whereby the roller may move up and down and will be guided in such movements by the fitting of these trunnions in the slots C, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. A cross-bar C" connects the upper ends of the bolts C and rests upon and is secured to a lever C, which has a detent engaging with the rack M and is pivoted at its front end at C to the upper end of a plate (3 projecting up from the cross-bar C of the frame C By operating this lever C the roller C may be moved up or down to regulate the depth of the blades C, as will be understood from the drawings and foregoing descr1pt1on.

The scraper D is arranged in rear of the topper O and is disposed diagonally from side to side of the machine, so it will gather the toppings and will deliver the same at its rear end at one side of the machine. As shown, the scraper comprises a blade D, whose front edge may be made straight, if desired, as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be I toothed, if desired, as illustrated at in Fig. 6.

man D with the lever D in convenient reach of the operator and bywhich the scraper may be regulated to set its edge toward or from the ground, as will be understood from .Fig. 6 of the drawings. The scraper has a i limited longitudinal movement afforded by the extension of the pivoted ends of the bar D through the bearings (P, so that the scraper may give slightly in a longitudinal direction and may operate with a shearing action in readjusting to its normal position. In thus readjusting the scraper to its normal position, which is shown in Fig. 1, I may em ploy a *spring for holding it yieldingly in place. This spring, as shown at d in Figs. 1

and 6, comprises a coil-spring secured at one end d to the barD and extending thence around the end of the scraper nearest the front of the machine, thence back along the rear side of the bar D and secured at its end at D to the main frame adjacent to the rear end of the scraper. This construction operatesto draw the scraper normally toward the right-hand side of the main frame or in the direction of the rear end of the scraper, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

It will be noticed that this spring not only operates to move the scraper longitudinally,

as described, but also operates to tilt the scraper slightly in such manner as to force the edge of the scraper yieldingly toward the surface of the ground. This results from the bearing of the spring against the rear side of the scraper (see Fig. 6) slightly below the axis of the pivot D so that the spring performs this double function by the particular construction as shown and before described. intermediate cross-frame P extends between the side bars J at a point slightly in rear of the scraper D and has at its center the arch J the rearwardly-offset portion P, which is braced by a bar 1? (see Figs. 1 and 2) from Within the offset portion P is a cross-bar P, on which is mounted the rack Q, which operates the crank-axle R, by which the plows may be raised and lowered in the use of the invention. The lever is pivoted at Q, has a portion Q for engagementwith the rack-segment P and a depending portion which connects with the crank R, which is preferably the intermediate connecting portion of the axle R for the wheels 0. This crank R extends below the beams S of the plows and is provided on its upper side with loops R through which the beams S extend. By these box-loops R I am able to press the plows downwardly to any desiredextent.

The beams S are pivoted at their front ends .pivots S, and to these upward extensions are connected the drag-bars S which extend to the front end of the main frame and are pro vided with eyes S to which the team may be attached, so that the pulling strainwill be exerted directly upon the plow-beams in the operation of the invention. Byrocking the lever Q the beams may be raised and lowered to any desired extent. These beams have the standards S at the lower ends of which are secured the diggers E in the form of shovels, each having the upright landside S and the base-plate S which inclines upwardly toward its rear end to lift the soil and the beets and is provided at its upper rear end with the rearwardly-projecting bars S, which are spaced apart and are adapted to disintegrate the soil and in a measure separate the beets therefrom, so the beets will be delivered in condition to be collected by the rake F, whichis arranged immediately in rear of the diggers, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Extending adjacent to the front ends of the shovels and slightly to one side of the inner edge thereof I support from the beams S disks U. These disks are inclined toward their lower edges toward their respective shovels and are supported on frames having upright rods U, connecting with their respective beams, and forwardly-extending r0 ds U connecting at their rear ends with. the lower ends of the rods U and at their front ends with the cross-shafts T, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. By this construction it will be noticed the disks, being supported from the beams, are raised and lowered as the beams are raised and lowered by the operation of the lever Q before described. These disks cut the soil loose on one side, and the knife-like landsides S on the shovels loosen the soil on the other side, the bottom plate S raising the soil and beets and the beets operating to push each other back along the base-plate S as is desired in the operation of the machine.

The toothed roller or shaft G is journaled at its ends within vertically-elongated slots G, (see Fig. 2,) so it can rise and fall slightly, and is provided with projecting teeth or bars G which operate directly above the teeth of the rake F. This toothed shaft G is operated from the wheel O at the left of the machine by the sprocket-chain O, which operates the conveyer I, said sprocket-chain 0 extending over and engaging with a s rocket-wheel G on the shaft G. This s aft G with its projecting teeth G aids the teeth of the rake F in sifting the soil from the beets, and also operates to discharge the beets from the teeth of the rake F into the trough H at the rear of the machine. The rake F has a bar F, journaled at its opposite ends in the framing, and the teeth F projecting forwardly from the bar or shaft F and adapted to be raised and lowered by the rocking of said shaft F in the operation of the machine. For operating the rake I provide (see Fig. 8) an upwardly-projecting crank-arm F at one end of the shaft F and a hand-lever F engaging a rack F (see Fig. 1) and connected by a pitman F with the crank-arm F whereby the rake may be operated to raise and lower its teeth F as will be understood from Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The trough H extends from side to side of the machine in rear of the rake F and in position to receive the beets discharged therefrom and is open to discharge at the right side of the machine. The conveyer I operates in this trough and is provided with con veyer-flights, such as projecting pins I, forming flights for conveying the beets to the open end of the trough at the right side of the machine when the conveyer is operated by the chain O, passing around the sprocketwheel I at the end of the conveyer-shaft.

In the operation of the machine it will be understood that the beets being planted in rows, as usual, the rotary cutter at the front end of the machine will cut off the very rank tops and the topper C will by its blades cooperating with the roller, which is adjustable relatively to the blades, as before described, operate to out the top ortions at the desired distance below t e surface of the ground, the scraper following and discharging the tops to one side of the machine, the plows E following in line with the rows and digging the beets out of the ground and disintegrating the soil and separating the same from the beets with the aid of the rearwardlyprojecting bars or pins 8, the rake F in rear of the plows gathering the beets and discharging the same by the assistance of the toothed roller to the transverse trough at the rear of the machine, where they are discharged at one side by the action of the conveyer in the operation of the machine.

It will be noticed that in the operation of the topper the roller is adjusted relatively to the blades C, the latter being arranged to out along the rows of beets. It will also be noticed that the plows are in alinement with the blades C to also operate along the beetrows, and means are provided whereby the plows may be adjusted up and down, and the topper may be adjusted, and thus I am able to adjust the plows relative to the adthe same to one side of the machine, the" plows arranged in rear of the scraper and in alinement with the blades of the topper, means whereby the plows may be adjusted relatively to the adjustment of the topper, a rake arranged in rear of the plows, a transverse trough in rear of the rake and in position to receive the beets discharged by said rake, means operating in connection with the rake for discharging the beets to the, trough, and a conveyer in the trough, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a beet-harvester with the framing, of means for digging the bee-ts, topping devices in advance of the digging means, and means between the topping devices and digging means for discharging the tops at one side of the machine, said discharging means comprising a scraper disposed diagonally from side to side of the machine, a bar or shaft carrying said scraper and pivoted at its ends and having a limited movement in the direction of its length, and a spring for resisting said endwise movement and for holding the scraper yieldingly in pos'- tion to engage and discharge the toppings, substantially as set forth.

3. A beet-harvester comprising the framing, means supporting the framing above the ground, a topperhaving blades adapted to operate close to the surface of the ground, means supporting the topper from the main frame, and a cutter in advance of said topper and adapted to out off the very rank tops, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a beet-harvester with the framing and the topping devices, of a scraper in rear of the topping devices and inclined rearwardly toward one end whereby it may discharge the tops to one side of the machine, said scraper being pivotally supported whereby itmay be tilted and having a limited longitudinal movement, and spring devices for resisting said longitudinal movement of the scraper, substantially as set forth.

5.- The combination in a beet-harvester with the framing and the topping devices, of a scraper in rear thereof and having a lower blade-like portion and an upper grating portion, substantially as set forth. I

6. The combination with the framing and the topping devices, of a scraper pivoted at its upper end to the framing whereby it may be adjusted at its lower edge toward and. from the ground, and means for tilting the scra er on said pivot, substantially as' set forth 7. The combination in a beet-harvester with the framing and the topping devices, of the scraper in rear thereof and pivoted at its upper edge and movable longitudinally in the direction of said pivot whereby it may operate with a shearing action, means for tllting the scraper on said pivot, and a spring for normally pressing the scraper in one direction, substantially asset forth.

8. In a beet-harvester, the combination with the framing and the topping devices, of thescraper in rear of the topping devices and pivoted at its up er edge and having a limitedv longitudina movement in alinement with its pivot, and a spring pressing the scraper longitudinally in one direction and ada ted to press the edge of the scraper normall fort 9. The combination with the framing and the scraper pivoted at its upper end, of a coilspring suitably secured at one end, extending t ence along the rear side of the scraper below the pivot thereof, and secured at its other end in connection with the framing whereby the spring may exert a tension on the scraper in the direction of its pivotal axis and also may tilt the scraper on said pivot, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination in a beet-harvester with devices for digging the beets from the ground and means in advance of said digging devices for topping the beets and discharging the tops to one side of the machine, of a rake in rear of the digging devices, a trough in rear of the rake in position to receive the beets,

and a conveyer for discharging the beets from the trough, substantially as set forth.

11. In a beet-harvester, the combination of the framing, the topping-blades for the beets a roller above the topping-blades for varying the operating position of the blades, means for adjusting said rollers, digging devices in rear of the topping devices, and means for adjusting the digging devices, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination in a beet-harvester with the framing and means for topping and digging the beets, of a rake arranged in rear of the digging means, a trough in rear of the rake and in position to receive the beets therefrom, and means operating above the rake for discharging the beets into the trough, substantially as set forth.

y toward the ground, substantially as set 13. The combination in a beet-harvester of the framing, topping devices supported thereby, digging devices in rear of the topping devices and comprising the beams, the shovels supported thereon, disks supported from the beams and operating in connecting with the shovels and the bars projecting rearwardly from the shovels and spaced apart whereby to disintegrate the soil and separate the beets therefrom, substantially as set forth.

14. In a beet-harvester substantially as herein described, the combination with the framing, the topping devices, and the gathering devices, of digging devices located between the topping and gathering devices and comprising the pivoted beams, means engaging with the beams between their ends for adj usting the same vertically, the shovels and disks carried by the beams and the disintegrating-bars projecting rearwardly from the shovels and spaced apart, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination substantially as here in described, of the framing, the topping devices supported at the front end of the framing, means in rear of the topping devices for discharging the tops to one side of the machine, the digging devices in rear of said topdischarging means, and drag-bars connected with the digging devices and extending thence forwardly and adapted for connection with the draft devices, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination in a beet-harvester with the main frame and a cross-shaft connected therewith, of the beams connected at their front ends with the said shaft and provided at their rear ends with the devices for digging the beets, draft-rods connected with said beams and extending forwardly and adapted for connection with the draft devices, substantially as set forth.

17. In a beet-harvester the combination with the main frame and means carried thereby for topping, digging and gathering the beets, of a steering-wheel having an upright shaft journaled to the main frame,

spring devices for resisting the endwise movements of said shaft, a lever for moving the said shaft vertically relative to the main frame, a tongue, and meansconnecting the tongue with the steering-wheel, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH F. SANDBERG. Witnesses:

' GEORGE E. MILES, GEORGE Y. SMITH.

rio 

